We hear it everywhere nowadays, but what does it really mean to “go green?” Are there really benefits?
Scientists are constantly discovering new information about how our bodies work, and perhaps more importantly, how certain chemicals affect us. For most of human history, we lived without houses, cable TV, Slurpees or video games. Hard to believe, but it’s true. We lived a radically “green” life compared to today. It’s only in the last few hundred years that we’ve regularly exposed ourselves to harsh chemicals that can be harmful if not handled properly.
One of the biggest controversies concerns the use of pesticides on our food. Cheap chemical mixtures sometimes called organophosphates are used in farming, primarily to control bugs. The effects of some of these pesticides can cause cancer, ADHD in children and even infertility. Feeding your family organic fruits and vegetables, which have not been sprayed with pesticides can greatly reduce these risks. Getting to know your local farmers is a great way to verify the quality of the foods and which, if any, pesticides are used. There are many natural ways to control pests and smaller farmers tend to have a lot of knowledge about these alternatives. Another option is to grow your own! Nothing brings a family closer together than planting and tending to a pesticide free family garden.
Meat, eggs and dairy products are also receiving a lot of attention when it comes to being green. Because so many factory farms crowd so many animals into cages or feed lots, high doses of antibiotics are given to animals preventatively. (Or, in other words, all the time.) The animals are also fed growth hormones so they grow bigger faster, meaning there are more animals on the land in less time than ever before, and that means a lot more animal waste. All of this ends up in our water, polluting our air and rendering the soil useless. This practice is extremely damaging to the environment, which has negative health effects on humans. We are also at risk of health problems such as e coli and salmonella by eating animal products not raised in organic conditions. Seek out organic sources of animal products or just skip them altogether.
Around the house we can unsuspectingly expose our families to chemicals that may be harmful to them and the environment. Bleach is a very strong chemical that can damage lungs and is particularly dangerous for individuals with heart or respiratory conditions. Chlorine is extremely caustic, damaging the environment, polluting the water, soil and air. There are dozens of safe, chlorine-free products available to clean your home with. (You can even try regular white wine vinegar for much of your cleaning needs. It works just as well and costs less than any fancy brand name chemical cleaning product.)
In many cases, going green can save you money, but even more valuable, it always saves you peace of mind.
Guest Post by Michael Krauss of DiscountVouchers.org where you can find Apple Discount Vouchers.
